The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has outlined some challenges Parliament faces in the quest to augment the passage of a private member’s bill.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker made this known during an address at the University of Ghana, Legon, an Event organised by Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica) in collaboration with the University of Ghana Students Parliament.
The event was to take stock of the four years of the Private Member Bill Regime in Ghana taking into account the experiences, Lessons and the way Forward.
The event had the presents of the Deputy Attorney General, Hon. Alfred Tuah Yeboah, Hon. Francis Xavier Sosu, the Member of Parliament for Madina constituency, Maame Adwoa Gyakye -Jandoh a Senior Lecturer at the Political Science Department of the university and also Sammy Obeng, Executive Director of PNAfrica.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker indicated that one of the major challenges facing the private member bill is either the creation of the 1992 constitution or individuals who have occupied positions as executive president.
Bagbin described executive presidents over the years as elected dictatorship.
He elaborated that the executive challenge has been in existence for a long time and the current President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo is not the only president who has refused to assent to a bill sponsored by a private member.
Mr. Bagbin emphatically stated that, the constitution of Ghana has not granted any kizotic powers to any organ of state or authority of state to put the law in their own hands but they are to rather do what is right.
He further stressed that, lack of finance and absence of lobbyists has also been a challenge over the years which delays the passage of a private member bill.
As part of the challenges faced by Parliament in implementing a private member bill, he mentioned the absence of civil society vigilant as one of them.
Concluding, he urged individuals in authority to serve the people of this country with all sincerity as the law demands and ensure that before their exit from office the citizens will be in better conditions.
PNAfrica a Civil Society Organisation which has over the years been involved in convening and strengthening networks that seek to engage national parliaments in Africa towards enhancing transparency and encouraging citizens’ participation in the parliamentary process.
This is organization (PNAfrica) created a dedicated desk in August 2021 to work and collaborate with organizations, corporate Ghana and individuals, who are interested in bringing a Private Members’ Bill to Parliament.
Private Member’s Bill is proposed legislation introduced by a Member of Parliament (MP) in their capacity as an MP, distinct from a Public Bill introduced by a minister of state on behalf of the executive.
On July 16 2020 the 7th Parliament of Ghana adopted a motion to start admitting Private Members’ Bill (PMB). This brought to an end the old regime where only the Executive arm of Government had the sole prerogative to introduce Bills in Parliament. A Private Members’ Bill, however, should not offend Article 108 and will not be categorized as what the British call “a money bill”.
BY: Sheila Obaapa Naana Frimpomaa